Fluid coupling



ug- 31, 1943. c. A. NERACHER ETAL- 2,328,393

FLUID COUPLING Filed Feb. 13, 1941 ATTORNEYS- Y Patented Aug. 31, 19473v COUPLING Carl A. Neraoher andWilliam T. Dunn, Detroit,

Micln, assigner:

Gbrysler Corporation,

Highland Park, Mich., a corporationoi Dela- `Application February 13,1941, Serial No. 378,738 `Claims. (Cl. Bil-54) y 'I'his invention relates to a fluid couplingofF the kinetic type.

An object of the invention is to provide in a fluid coupling principally 'fabricated from a plurality of sheet metal stampings I of improved means for securing the latter in assembled relationship, the istampings being fashioned and assembled in a' novel manner for attaining the I objects of the invention.

A coupling of the type herein contemplated includes impeller and runner structures each comprising a cover structure and a plurality of vanes which are mechanically connected together preferably by bending or deformin'g parts of the assembly into locking engagement with other parts thereof. More particularly, an object of the invention is the provision of means for locking the vanes to the carrier therefor, such means being preferably disposed without the iluid working chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vcover structure and yanes therefor which are so fashioned as to facilitate manufacture and assembly at relatively low cost and which will pro- .vide a coupling having improved' strength and operating characteristics.

'" Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view through a coupling embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 3 isV a .fragmentarysectional view illustrating a further form of impeller cover and vane arrangement. l -V l The invention `is illustrated and described in connection with a fluid coupling of the kinetic type having a toroidal circuit for the working liquid formed by juxtaposedV annular vane impeller and runner structures, dished in cross section and opening one toward the other, these structures preferably being principally fabricated from sheet metal stampings.

lishing a drive between a driving port such as the crank shaft Il of an internal -combustion engine, and a drlvenpart such as the shaft II,it will be understood that couplings embodying the while the im-' proved coupling is particularly adapted for estabinvention can be utilized in 4drives other than those for motor vehicles. Y

The coupling includes an annular casing I2 preferably of sheet metal and having separately formed walls 'Il and Il, edge portions thereof being secured together as at I5. When employed as herein contemplated, the coupling functions as a ily wheel structure and is provided with' a ring gear Il.

'I'he casing wall I4 in through lwhich extends a hub-forming sleeve I1 journalled on the driven shaft II and adapted to be operably connected thereto by a suitable clutch (not shown), although if desired the sleeve can be splined to the shaft II. A sealing unit. generally designated by the numeral I8, cooperates with the hub I1 to seal the opening in the casing wall Il. :The casing wall I3 is drivingly secured .as by welding at I9 to a centrally apertured annulus 20 which, in turn, is secured' by a plurality of bolts 2| or the like to ailange of the driving shaft Il. The hub-forming sleeve I1 is journlled in a flange 22 of the annulus 20 by a bearing unit 23.

Positioned within the casing I2 in juxtaposed I2 an evacuating chamber 26 communicating with the working chamber.

The impeller. structure includes an annular dish-shaped sheet metal vane carrier 21 secured to the casing wall Il by welding, as indicated at 28, and having a plurality of circurnferentiallyl spaced radially extending vanes, one of which is The v,

indicatedat 28, formed 'of sheet metal. radially outer portion of thecarrier 2111s ilanged at III and adjacent the latter is a first series of circumferentiallyspaced pairs of slot-like openings, the -slots 3| and 32 of one of such pairs registering with a vane 29. 'I'he carrier 21 is further provided with a second series of circumferentially spaced pairs of slot-like openings intermediate the radially inner and outer portions thereof, the slots 33 and 34 of one of such pairs registering with a vaner29. 'I'he radially inner A 7 portion ofthe carrier has an axial flange 35, an

inwardly extending flange 36, av second axial iiange 31 and a terminal flange 3l, extending radially inwardly, the flange 3l having aplurality of circumferentially spaced slot-like openings 39 therein, respectively registering with a vane' 29.

This arrangement provides a stepped portion i' and each vane 2| has the vma1a11y-1mier end tbereofsoshapedasto'preferablyseatonthe has a central opening thereflange 31, such end portion being provided with a tab 40 extending-from an edge thereof through the registering slot 39 and-angularly deflected to eect an interlock with the flange 33 forming the riser in the stepped portion.

Each vane 29 is provided with a pair of tabs 4| and 42 at the radially outer portion thereof vwhich respectively register with -and extend through the,slots 3| and 32 of one pair of the Afirst series, the tabs 4| and 42 being oppositely "deected to effect an interlock between the vane and carrier: yEach vane 29 has a second pair of tabs 43 and 44 which respectively register with and extend through the slots 33 and 34 of one pair of the second series, the tabs 43 and 44 being'l oppositely deflected to effect an interlock as aforesaid. The casing wall 'I3 is provided with an annular recess, indicated at 45, receiving the deected portion of the tabs 43 and 44.

The runner structure 25 includes an annular dish-shaped sheet metal vane carrier 48 and'a 1. A uid coupling of the kinetic type including juxtaposed impeller and runner` structures, at least one of said structuresincluding an annular sheet metal vane carrier having a dished section and a radially inner end portion includplurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending varies, one of which is indicated at d1, formed of sheet metal. The carrier 46 has a flange 43 at the radially outer edge thereof, adjacent which isa series of circumferentially spaced pairs of slot-like openings, the slots i9 and 50 of one of such pair respectively registering with talos 5i and 52 of a vane 41, these tabs extending through the registering slots and being oppositely dehected to edect an interlock with the carrier.

The carrierdhis provided with a second series of circumferentiallyspaced pairs of slot-like openings, the slots and 54 of one of such pairs respectively registering with tabs 55 and 53 of a Vane d1, these tabs extending through the registering slots and being oppositely deected to eect' an interlock as aforesaid. The carrier 43 has af radially inwardlyv extending flange 51 provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slot-like openings, one of which is shown at 58, which respectively register with one of the varies 41; an axially extending ange 59; and a radial attaching flange 60. Each vane 41 has the radially inner end portion thereof so'shaped as to preferably seat on the flange 59 and is provided with .a tab 6l extending through a registering slot 58 and deflected to engage with the flange 51.

The hub forming sleeve I1 has an annular 33 the ange 60,03? the runner carrier 43 and an annular 'member 34, the latter being deflected axially so that a part 65 thereof extends into the ,couphng working chamber to overlie the radially inner portion of the fluid passages provided by the vanes 41 and impede high :duid circulation velocity of'theuid operating medium to thereby facilitate' relatively high slip condition between the impeller and runner structure.

The part 65 preferably abuts the adjacent edge yof the van'es 41 and cooperates with the flange 51 ofthe vane carrier l46 to forman annular channel lin which is received the radially inner end portion of the vanes 41.

' While it is intended that the foregoing ar-` rangement should be sufllcient to securely x the vane's to the carrler/ therefor, nevertheless itwill -v flange 62V to which is drivlngly secured by rivets having spaced pairs of tabs, said carrier having be `understood that if` desired the' arrangement l carrier utilizing lfor example thev .copper-hydrogenmeth'od.." l

can be. supplemented by'welding Ithe vanes to the having a rst pair of tabs respectively extendj ing through a pair of the slots of said first series 'and oppositely deflected Vto interlock `with said carrier and a second pair of tabs respectively extending througha pair of the slots of said second series and oppositely deected to interlock with said carrier, each of Vsaid vanes having a radial extremity abutting said second ange and having a tab extending parallel to said axis through a slot of said third flange and deflected to interlock therewith.

2. A fluid coupling of the kinetic type including juxtaposed vaned impeller and runner struc; J tures, cooperating to form a uid working chamber, said runner structure including a sheet metal vane carrier having a dish-shaped section and a stepped portion having a riser provided with a plurality of eircumferentially spaced openings, an annular member rotatable with said carrier extending into saidchamber and spaced axially from said riser, 'a vplurahty of circumferentlally spaced radially extending uid passage forming vanes seated in said dish-shaped section each spaced pairs of slots respectively receiving the spaced pairs of tabs offsaid vanes. thetabs of each of said pairs being oppositely deected'to engage the surface of said carrier exterior to said chamber, each of saidV vanes having an end portion thereof extending between said member and said riser, and Yatab projecting from an'edge portion of each of said vane end portions throughi a slot in said riser :and interlocked therewith,

said member engaging the oppositeedge portion of said end portion of said varies. t

3. A uid coupling of the'kinetic type includ-` ing juxtaposedvaned impeller and runner structures cooperating to form a uid working chamber, at least/ one of said structures including a sheet metal vanev carrier, means secured to said carrier and cooperating therewith to form an annular channel adjacent the inner portion of said carrier, awall of said channel having a series of circumferentially spaced slots therein,

a plurality 'of circumferentlally- Yspaced radially extending/'vanes forming iluid passages for said one structure, each of said vanes extending into said channelvand having a tab extending into one of said slots and deflected to secure the tab to said wall, each of said vanes having further adiacentiy disposed tabs and said carrier having further adjacently disposed slots respectively receiving said tabs, said adjacently disposed tabs being oppositely deflected to eilect an interlock between the vane and carrier.

4. A fluid coupling of the kinetic type including juxtaposed vaned lmpeller and runner structures cooperatingto form a fluid working cham- 'ber, said impeller structure including a sheet metal vane carrier having radially spaced .edge portions and an intermediate dish-shaped section, the radially innermost of said edge portions being defiected to form an annular channel, a plurality of circumferentlally spaced radially extending vanes forming iluid passages for said impeller structure, a plurality of said l vanes having the radially inner end portions thereof extending into said channel, means interlocking said end portions with a wall of said channel, each of said vanes having tabs disposed locked with said carrier.

annular flange intermediate the dished section and the mounting ange provided with circumferentially spaced slots each so formed as to receive a tab extending generally parallel to the rotative axlsoi' the coupling, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending nuid passage forming sheet metal vanes seated in said dished section, each of said vanes having a tab at the outer end portion thereof` passing through one of the first mentioned slots and interlocked with the carrier, the inner end portion of each of said vanes overlapping said radial ilange and carrying a tab extending generally parallel to said axis through 'one of the second mentioned slots and interlocked with the'c'arrier.

CARL A. NERACHER. WILLIAM T. DUNN. 

